Real Madrid ended their 2025-26 campaign with a 4-2 win over Athletic Club, but that scoreline does little to hide one of the most chaotic seasons in the club's modern history. The Spanish giants finished without a single trophy, cycling through two managers and watching their dressing room implode with public tantrums and physical violence.
A Trophy Drought and Managerial Carousel
The season began with high hopes under Xabi Alonso, but by October the cracks were showing. After a series of disappointing results, Alonso was dismissed and replaced by Álvaro Arbeloa. Arbeloa's tenure lasted only a few months before he too was shown the door, leaving the squad without tactical direction. Fans at the Santiago Bernabéu grew restless, chanting for president Florentino Pérez's resignation during several home matches.
The lack of silverware extended a multi-year drought for a club accustomed to winning. Barcelona capitalized on Madrid's disarray, cruising to a La Liga title after a decisive Clásico victory where goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres sealed the deal.
Dressing Room Drama: From Tantrums to Fistfights
Internal friction became public as early as October, when Vinicius Jr. threw an on-field tantrum after being substituted during the Clásico, storming down the tunnel. The coaching staff failed to discipline him, setting a dangerous precedent. Kylian Mbappé soon added to the turmoil, taking poorly timed holidays and then complaining in a mixed-zone interview that he was Arbeloa's "fourth choice forward."
The crisis reached its lowest point on May 12, when Florentino Pérez called an emergency press conference. The 79-year-old president spent an hour ranting about perceived enemies and calling for early elections, rather than addressing the club's structural failures. Days later, the club confirmed that midfielder Federico Valverde had been hospitalized after a physical altercation with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni. Rumors of further fights involving Antonio Rüdiger circulated, leaving the squad's unity in tatters.
Champions League Heartbreak and a Lost Title Race
The competitive turning point came in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, where Madrid were eliminated by Bayern Munich after a chaotic second leg in Bavaria. A controversial red card for Eduardo Camavinga sealed their fate, and the team's motivation evaporated. They offered little resistance in the decisive Clásico, handing Barcelona the title.
With the dressing room fractured and the season a disaster, the board has turned to José Mourinho to restore order. The Portuguese manager, known for his iron fist, is expected to manage egos and rebuild a fractured locker room infrastructure. For a club that prides itself on excellence, the 2025-26 season will be remembered as a catastrophic failure.
For more on the crisis, read our analysis: Real Madrid's Crisis: Could Mourinho's Iron Fist Restore Order? and Mbappé's Role at Real Madrid in Question After Arbeloa's Striker Hierarchy Comments.
